Electric heater for oil wells and the like



R. s. PERSHING ELECTRIC HEATER FOR OIL WELLS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Sept. 1l.

l B 9 6 70 x5) 7.5

jm 1'( 18 f l Patented Aug. 14, 1923.

UNITE l ROYAL s. Enns-laine, or Fon'r WORTH, TEXAS.

ELECTRIC :asians ron orre wELLsANn 'rHE man.

` Application med september 11; ie'eojseriaim. 409,547.

lTo all 'whom it may,concern:A A v Be it'lnownthatlloYAL S.` Pnnsrimo, a citizen `of`theUlnitedlvStates, residing'at State4 of Texasfhave .inventedfcertain new and useful Improvements in Electric Heaters for Oil VellS and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices vfor heating substances in Wells or cavities in the earth in order to create or increase the flow or output of oil, water or the like," and pertains more particularly to a device of this character for use in oil wells where the oil in the bottom of the hole has ceased or partly ceased to flow by reason of parafline or other ingredients or substances in the oil clogging the oil bearing rock or sand, the rime object being to melt or heat the para ne or other solids or semi-solid substances by electrical means provided in the orm of a heater suspended on the cable or sand line and connected by wires to a source of electric current generated above round.

Anotier principal object is to provide a heater comprising a Series of interchangeable heater units properly insulated and so arranged that the maximum amount of heat generated and transferred through the wires to the heater may be obtained, and the heat regulated to suit conditions in the well.

Other minor advantages and objects will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the heater suspended in a well, the heater receptacle partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view in enlarged section with part broken away, of the heater units or cells in the cage.

Figure 3 represents a partial longitudinal sectional view showing the interior of one of the cells or units and its neighboring cells and the mode of connection and their arrangement in the cage.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the cage and receptacle and one of the units, and

the device'is lo'wredliand Renewed october a, 1322. serial No. 592.135.

j l*`i,f 'ure5lisv across sectional View through*- the cage showingrv the contacts and manner of imidirngrheenS-in piace, in the cage. f A

' IteferringmoreI particularly to the drawings,'1 represents t'liefwall'of a well inwhich suspended onthe sand line or cable 2. The device or heater comprises a shell or receptacle 3 with an opening at each end and provided with a cap 1, and to the upper cap is connected the sand line or cable 2 and in which are seated the terminal posts 4".

Inside the receptacle 3 is arranged a cage 5 for supporting and carrying1r the heater units, each of which consists of a shell or housing 6 and provided with a cap 7. 0n the cap T and likewise the lower end of the shell 6 is a projection 8 between which and abutting the projections is a core 9 around which is wound the heater wire 10, carrying the electric current, supplied from a source generated above ground through the feed wires 11 and 12. The core 9 and projections 8-8 are centrally bored to receive a bolt 13 which is provided to secure the core in the shell 6 and each shell containingT the wire Wound core 9 is secured in position by a spring 14.

The Wire 10 has its ends connected to terminals 15 and 16 so that each heater unit or coil may be connected to its adjacent unit, such connection being made by means of an insulated spring 17 connected to an insulatinglr strip 18y and also connected with a contact screw 19, also properly insulated as shown The cells or heat units are thus connected with each other, but where a cell or unit becomes faulty or where a certain number of units only are required any of the units may be removed without breaking.Y the circuit, since each shell or unit is also independently connected with the .source of heat by means of rods 20-20 which extend from the top to the bottom of the receptacle 3. The springs 17 are extended beyond the cage 5 and bent downward and connected to the rods 20-20 as shown in Figure 2 and at the top of the receptacle to the feed wires 11 and 12.

The device is supplied with electric current from a. source of heat above ground and provided' with means commonly in use for controlling the electric current. The receptacle 3 and principal parts are preferzrbl)v 0f cimprllih, by iSn,. t1r,. .ll tend t0 maxixiiurn ajmunt'of heat derived from the electric sourceirom Ythe generator.

Having thus descrbedtlie nature 4and objects of my inveptlio 11, \\'h;i.t. l claim as nen' and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is-

Lzffhezgter for oil wells and. the like, comprising a, tlular receptacle with Clo -slxresfat t e top. .andtbotbom thereof ineans Within jthe reoegtecle for. suspending A:L .plu-

` railityoffliezrtencoils .nspgiced `unxtariyrelatioiishp., each heater colvencased .in a-shell d. h shell having closnres at each end 2o .eni ,.connecting rnembersand so arranged igiofi 1 e Llnit cach unit or coil connects with each other :unl whereby the remoi'al of one or more cells or coils will not interfere with he healing arrangement.

Q. heater for oil Wells and the like, comprising; tubular Vreceptacle with closures at the top and bottom thereof, means within the receptacle fons'spendng in longitudinal or vertical position one upon the other, a'E 'p'lurality voff-heater units, each unit comprisingp.v yireyogpd core enclosed in :i shell, said shell 'having means for connectinfo1 or nia-king con,t;l,t wi tl1. i ts reghii'oring shell to form a" continuous fnu'ltiilebafttery n nd said connectionsor contacts Soar-ranged that removal ,of one unihorscell will not 1nterfere with the `hela'izilg 'arnangelpelg In testimony. whereof I lieve `my name bo this s ecifcation. 'iiomL As. PERSHING. 

